Trimmer saw



Aug. 7, 1934. R. P. RICHARDSON TRIMMER SAW Filed Jan. 10, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet,

uttomcg 7, R. P. RICHARDSON 1,969,425

TRIMMER SAW Filed Jan. 10, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "1 MY II i a m l Illi I F 1 Isnnentor Gttonleg 1934- R. P. RICHARDSON 1,969,425

TRIMMER SAW Filed Jan. 10, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I k 2' F er/ 720/ F/MJMQM H a V BB 54% Gltorneg Patented Aug. 7, 1934 1,969,425

' UNITED STATES PATENTOFFFQE TRIMMER SAW Robert Paul Richardson, Toledo, Oreg.

ApplicationJanuary 10, 1934, Serial No. 706,033

9 Claims. (01. 143-41) The present invention relates to improvements Another obj ect of the invention is to provide a in trimmer and like saws mounted upon horizonmechanism for raising and lowering trimmer and tally pivoted or vertically rocking arms or frames like saws operating upon the variable counterwhich are designed to move such saws into or out weight principle whereby sudden starts, stops,

of sawing position. The invention particularly are eliminated. 60

has to do with a new and novel mechanism for Another object of the invention is to provide actuating, controlling and regulating the rocka mechanism for raising and lowering trimmer ing movement of saw supporting frames which and like saws which readily permits such saws to are pivoted or fulcrumed for raising and lowerbe operated in batteries or multiple. 7

l0 ing. Another object of the invention is to provide 65 The invention specifically relates to a semian automatically adjusting counterbalance automatic control mechanism for moving a trimmechanism for raising and lowering trimmer mer saw into or out of sawing position. This is and like saws which has a limited number of accomplished by a variable counterweight mechmajor parts, and in this instance but three,

anism embodying a counterweight balance lever thereby assuring positive operationand avoiding supporting the saw frame. This lever is prounnecessary breakdowns. vided with a counterweight which is movable Another object of the invention is to provide therealong. The weight when moved in one dia mechanism of the character outlined which is rection causes the lever to move the frame out inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

of sawing position, and when moved in the re- Another object of the invention is to provide 7 verse direction the efiect of the counterweight a mechanism of the character outlined which is lessened sufliciently to permit the saw frame may be readily substituted for other types of to over balance it, thereby allowing the frame to mechanisms utilized for raising and lowering return the saw to its normal or predetermined trimmer saws.

5 sawing position. This counterbalancing eiTect Further objects of the invention will be readily 80 or action is increased or decreased by a counterascertained on reading the specification followweight control lever which is actuated by the ing aided by the drawings, wherein:- products that are caused to travel beneath the Figure 1 is a plan illustrating a battery or mulsaw. When the lever is engaged by such products tiple mounting of trimmer saws utilizing the it moves the weight to a position where it causes hereinafter described invention to raise or lower 85 the counterbalance lever to raise the saw frame the saws. out of sawing position, such products passing be- Figure 2 is the sectional side elevation, indineath the saw untouched thereby. In conneccated by section line 2--2 of Figure 1, showing tion with the means for raising the saw frame the saw in lowered position.

just mentioned, a manual control device is also Figure 3 is the sectional side elevation, indi- 0 provided which when actuated nullifies the action cated by section line 33 of Figure 1, showing 1 of the moving counterweight and causes the saw the saw being raised by'the counterweight acto remain in sawing position. tuating lever being operated by a board.

This invention is especially adapted to operate Figure 4-. is the sectional side elevation indi- 40' saws in multiple mounting in connection with a cated by section line 4-4 of Figure 1, and shows 95 trimmer table having chains, belts or other suita saw being manually loweredto saw a board. able means for carrying lumber. The saws are Figure 5 is an end elevation of the frame for, mounted at predetermined spacings above the supporting the saw arms. table. Normally the saws are inthe line of travel Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation of the of boards carried upon the table, but, unless nulliadjustable counter eight, 100

fied by the manual control mechanism, do not Figure 7 is a plan of saw utilizing an electric engage the boards as they are raised thereabove motor as its propulsive means.

by the shifting of the counterweight whichis 00- Figure 8 is a side elevation of the View shown casioned by the counterweight control lever enin Figure 7.

gaging the boards, thus causing the counterbal- The present invention is primarily intended to 105 ance lever to raise the saws. be used in multiples for trimming lumber and The prime object of invention is to provide a in such installation they, are operated in convariable counterweight mechanism for raising nection with a moving table designed to carry and IOW trimmer Saws, and Saw S pporting boards past the saws. In the present instance arms designed for verticalraising and lowering. a cooperating table 1 is provided. This table has no carrier sprocket chains 2 which are provided with board engaging lugs or dogs 3 designed to compel boards 4 to travel thereon. Above the table, and supported so that it does not obstruct the travel of lumber thereunder, is a supporting frame or truss 5. Frame 5 forms a support for each of the saw mountings. These mountings embody a fulcruming or supporting shaft 6 secured to frame 5. This shaft, if desired, may serve all the saw mountings. A vrockable saw supporting frame 7 has one end pivotallyconnected or fulcrumed to shaft 6. The other end of member 7 is provided with suitable bores orbearings to receive arbor 8 to which is secured the saw 9. In addition to saw 9 the arbor has mounted thereon the pulley 10. A' driving s'hait 11 is mounted to frame 5 and this ,shaftcarries a number of pulleys 12 corresponding to the number of saws to be operated. Eachpulleyilu".

desirable" to permit the-saw to remain in such: position, andin ordertoautomaticallyraise the saw, unless otherwise;'inanu'ally controlled,

there has been providedfthefollowing 'mechaf I m,-' j. 7

'This consists of a counterbalance arm 14 rockably mounted intermediateiits-lengthupon the shaft or spindle 15. The outer end '14" is connected bypin 16 to the link l7,"which"link in" turnisconnected by pin to ithe army; fP'ositioned upon; the other end portion 147 6? the counterbalance arm 14; is; an-adiliStable' 'coun terweight; '19,, provided with an apert re-sa esportion "14, thereby, allowing'such; counterwe t scription that when weight" 19- is 'rnoved away r m he 1 m Q erm, this w 1 i lower end 14 'to'lower 'or'move-downw'a-rdlyQ and consequently the opposite end 141 v thereby causin arm '1 to; rise, by reason before mentioned link connection On the other M nd Wh w i t f sl ilbi iifii i 55 crum', portion l'fl? becomes over=balanced the lever or bell crank '22 state-sat its elb w boa'rdsl l, and-is engage V I N I,

boards'travei; under the downturned allowing arrhji and the connecnrig end 14 to lowen an d thus permitting"thefsawfl to r ume aw lo mio s r, 9 a i n: cally, move the; counterweight-'19 there is e o ram oun erw h so e Lever '22 has an upright portion ZQ QaIid Zontal portion 2 2".. The counterweight on the n p n. .23 6 1 i l il the sporting bracket 251; which is mounted theframeb. The upright or; vertical ar has a' slot 25which 'constitut es a guid'eway fits about pin 26' projecting. from the weight '19,

The. outeren'd '0 "h h riz 'nta1,.,arm .2

is normally positions d therebnl ann when s engaged the downtur-ried mrorm a runnerl 2:1,, Runneri2i provided with, a1co nterweightz'ij. gnome: 27; the line travel attire:

nullified by the hereinafter described manual operating means. ward-movement of the saw arm 7, a stop mechanism is provided, which consists of a bracket ZSsecure'd to frame 5, in which is threaded a In order to limit the downstud orv bolt. .29. This bolt is in line to be engaged by the portion 14' of arm 14, and unthrea'ding said bolt will limit the amount of upward movement of V, 24' and consequently limit e w s w r T F om the foregoing itwrll be seen'that thes'aw's are automatically"raisedfabove theline of' travel of the boards carr'idfby the table 1.1 However, it

will be found'ineces'sary-"tolower certain of the thait-i they engage andf-saw the "boards" as-they travel past; and in order a so so there is provided asimple operating mechanism com prising a cable or cord Bu which has one end at tached to "the endof the portion I cr-ievesis coin so 'e' 'ctenjdsithi' oug-h a ohain or' uneys- 31'- or other suitable guides to the operatorfs'plat form gt'rset auss hesaw to engage andsaw a board, endj32 of the cord 39 isheld or grasped, thereby rsisting"downward 'moveineijit'ofthe portion-" l of'leve' saw Q-init-s sawing-pols ion, the saw "is in raises pssin the event was.we?st tement i view of-a-multi'plerhounting 3 ar e controls w t seen-thatjgord 45' isbei'ng ulledi order to i ii i eii al r w A ai b'ss' s Fi ure :1 twi l'ii i' l e "that the? ends fjai' 7 b rd" 4: e'ibe ns s n Qfi Lf tn saws '42 and"47". Tinspperat on trues up orsquares the rough cutlendsfof suchboards,

n most instancess toma ic t s by aso o th fact that. thesaw raising mechanismof the end saw fines; b elimin ed-sq h tf sw (ides not raiseabove thea'dvancing'board; while tn theins armrzz; but it ensdb s ,eate dwflifl n li' -5WD b beisaw z- Tq rwe ly 'uti-liz this-"fl festurethe boards deliv red o th tr mmer s ws" are sli htly I n er .;a i th b d being han their-stato .finish s d m nsens it e n und rstoodthat li h s a ins x e we n ew; i?

sem b'f' r-s n.

' ereby retaining the v n m H pullin'g the ens s z off-the cord 39 downward will lower the into sawing position, where it is held as the-board; 'or' the present inven'-= J ind-rcate'dIeach-"in individual entiretyhy'the numbers lfi to'l-inclusivei "Thesesaws aremanually-controlled-by cords 30, each dicatedby-the-numbetof the'saw' v p H i an addedpri-me mane; Thus issaVififlS to; be 'manual'ly operated," when cords? ispulled'i -While-'in' Figure 4,'it will be its and'e'ach orat leastc'ertain pf theflother sg -c n forms-.to ..pr e rmin 1 1m "m t stan rd sqthatthe ame result is bta ned with r s ectts ho e'r than the one boards which. ar l ger hairless 2 Figures '7" and" 8' illustrate I a "modification of the invention just described in that a drive shaft 11 is dispensed with and the pulleys 10 and 12 are eliminated, a motor 33 secured to the free end ofarm 7 being substituted therefor. In this instance the saw 9 is mounted directly to the armature shaft 34.

In the foregoing description the means for manually controlling the saws may be modified somewhat by providing a system of levers to be.

substituted for the control cords, the levers being connected to the saws by cords, wires, links or other suitable means.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with a lumber conveyor or trimmer'table of a'rockably mounted saw arm positioned above such table, a saw mounted on said arm and normally positioned to intercept the lumber carried upon said table, a counterbalance arm connected to said saw arm, an adjustable counter-weight mounted upon the counter-balance arm and designed to be moved back and forth thereon, a counter-weight control lever connected to said counter-weight, said counter-weight control lever having a portion intercepting the lumber on said table and being engaged thereby, said lever when so engaged moving said counter-weight whereby said counterbalance lever moves the saw arm to a position where said saw does not intercept the lumber, and

an optionally operated control device operable to maintain the saw in intercepting position.

2. The combination with a lumber conveyor or trimmer table of a saw arm mounted to be rocked to and from said table, a saw carried by said arm including means for driving said saw, a fulcrumed counter-balance arm connected to said saw arm, a counter-weight on said counter-balance arm adjustable to and from its fulcrum, said counterbalance arm controlling the position of the saw with regard to said table and normally permitting it to rest in the line of travel of the lumber thereon, said weight when moved away from said fulcrum causing said counter-balance arm to move the saw arm to a position where said saw is without the line of travel of the lumber on said table, a counter-weight control lever connected to said counter-weight and positioned to be engaged by the lumber traveling on said table, said counterweight control lever when so engaged moving the counter-weight from said fulcrum whereby said counter-balance lever moves the saw out of the line of travel of the lumber, and means optionally operable to retain the saw in the line of travel of lumber.

3. The combination with a lumber conveyor or trimmer table of a saw arm mounted to be rocked to and from said table, a saw carried by said arm including means for driving said saw, a fulcrumed counter-balance arm connected to said saw arm, a counter-weight on said counter-balance arm movable to and. from its fulcrum, said counterbalance arm controlling the position of the saw with regard to said table and normally permitting it to rest in the line of travel of the lumber thereon, said weight when moved away from said fulcrum causing said counter-balance arm to move the saw arm to a position where said saw is out of the line of travel of the lumber on said table, a pivoted member designed to move said weight back and forth, said member being engaged by the lumber traveling on said table and when so engaged moving said counter-weight from the fulcrum of the counter-balance lever whereby the saw is moved from the line of travel of the l lumber, and means for nullifying the action of the pivoted member whereby the saw is maintained in the line of travel-of the lumber.

4. The combination with a-lumber conveyor or trimmer table of'an upwardly swinging arm, a saw supported thereby, a fulcrumed counterbalance arm supporting the swinging arm including a weight movable to and from its fulcrum, a movable member engaging the lumber traveling on said table, said memberbeing connected to said weight whereby when engaged by lumber it moves'the weight away from said fulcrum causing said counter-balance arm to raisesaid swinging arm to permit the lumber .to pass freely beneath the'saw, and a member connected to said counter balancearm optionally operable to restrain raising of the swinging arm.

5. The combination with a lumber conveyor or trimmer table of an upwardly swinging arm, a saw supported thereby and normally stationed in position to saw the lumber traveling upon said table, an adjustably counter-balanced arm designed to raise and lower the swinging arm, a movable control member for adjusting the counter-balancing effect of said arm, said control member engaging and being moved by the lumber carried on said table thereby operating to increase the aforesaid counter-balancing effect whereby the saw is raised to a position permitting the lumber to travel untouched therebeneath, and optionally operable control means operative to retain the saw in sawing position against the action of such control member.

6. The combination with a lumber conveyor or trimmer table of an upwardly swinging arm, a saw supported thereby and normally stationed in position to saw the lumber traveling on said table, an adjustable counter-balance designed to raise and lower the swinging arm including a counterweight movably mounted thereon and constituting means whereby its counter-balancing eifect may be increased or decreased for the purpose of correspondingly raising and lowering said arm, a lever operated by the lumber traveling on said table, said lever being connected to said counterweight causing it to so increase and decrease said counter-balancing efiect, and a manual control designed to retain the saw in sawing position against the operation of said lever.

7. In a trimmer saw, a pivoted saw supporting frame, a saw carried thereby including means for transmitting rotation to such saw, a rocking support member adapted to raise and lower said frame, a weight movable on said rocking support governing its raising and lowering of said frame, a rockable work engaging member connected to and governing the movement of said weight, said work engaging member when engaging work being actuated thereby and operating to compel said weight to move to a position wherein it causes said rocking support member to raise said frame and saw to a position above the work engaged thereby, and an optionally operable control operable to retain the saw in lowered position against the operation of the work engaging member.

8. In a trimmer saw, a pivoted saw supporting frame, a saw carried thereby including means for transmitting rotation to such saw, a pivotally mounted supporting bar having one end pivotally connected to said frame and adapted when rocked to raise and lower said frame, a movable weight mounted upon the other end of said supporting bar, said weight when moved in one direction causing said bar to raise said frame and when moved in the opposite direction, to lower said frame, a movable work engaging member conneete'd to and 'governin'glthe:moxzement'iof'said weight, saidwork engaginginember when engag in'g work being moved'thereby: and simultaneously moving saidiweight toa'positioniwherein it opera ates to cause said: supporting 'bar tos'raise said" frame and saw to a" position QZbOVET'thB 'iwnrk engaged thereby, and an optionally perablefcona;

trol operative to retain the; sawrinrlowered 'posiei tionaga'inst the 'operation: of the work: engagin member. 1 v

9. The combination with .a; lumber "conileyon or trimmer table of a saw adapted foriraisin'g nd. lowering,la* counter-.=ba1ancing imeans connected with and iq erable to raise and .ilowersaid saw, a counter-weight movably; incorporated *in and controlling the operation off said counterbalancing means and its movability causing said traveling upon'saidtable'and when so engaged movingsaid counter-weight in a direction which .'causes the counter-balancing means to raise the saw above" the lumber engaged thereby, and optionally operable means operative to secnrejthe counterebalancing n xeansv against'raising said saw.

"ROBERT'PAUL',RICHARDSON; 

